Shooting in Whitehorse neighbourhood leaves police officer and another man injured

An incident in a Whitehorse neighbourhood that started Wednesday evening began with an arrest warrant, but became ashooting that left an RCMP officer and the subject of the arrest warrant injured,police say.

During a media briefing on Thursday evening,Chief Supt.Scott Sheppard, the YukonRCMPCommanding Officer, said police went to a home in Porter Creek to execute an arrest warrant around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

He said police believed the subject of the warrant, Sheldon Keobke, who was considereda "high-risk prolific offender," was armed.

There had been previous and unsuccessful attempts to arrest Keobke, Sheppard said, so a critical incident team was brought in to help. It included branches from the Yukon RCMP,a federal investigations unit, police dogs and extra officers from Alberta and B.C.

Sheppard said Keobke fled on foot when officers approached him, and Keobke then ran into a officer patrolling the area.

From there, an"incident occurred,"Sheppard said, and both the officer and Keobke were shot and each sustained a serious injury.

Sheppard did not specify who fired the shots.Both received medical treatment and were taken to the Whitehorse General Hospital.Both men are in stable condition, Sheppard said Thursday evening.

Sheppard said there were a few other people at the home at the time, all of whom were taken into custody and later released without charges.

Police watchdog investigating

The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT), which looks into deaths involving police officers or serious injurycases, is now investigating the incident. The police watchdog also looks into cases of "serious or sensitive allegations" or police misconduct.

"ASIRT has been formally engaged by the Department of Justice assistant deputy minister, and are enroute to the territory to investigate police actions," Sheppard said in a pre-written statement.

Keobke, 35, faces a raft of charges including failure to comply with release order conditions, resist/obstruct a peace officer, possession of a weapon for dangerous purposes, and more.

Sheppard said Keobke is still being treated for his injuries.

Meanwhile, the officer who was shot is also still receiving medical treatment "with his family is by his side," Sheppard said.

"The injuries experienced by the police officerare serious," he said.There are mental health resources being made available to the emergency crews who responded to the incident.

He said the scene is secured and evidence is being collected.

Earlier,RCMP in Whitehorse asked the public to stay clear of an area in Porter Creek, but weretight-lipped about why.

In a news release issued late Wednesday night, police said there was an "active and evolving incident"near Centennial Street, Elm Street and 14th Avenue.

They said officers went door-to-door to notify residents in the area.

A house at the corner of Centennial St. and 14th Avenue was cordoned off by police Thursday morning.Neighbourssaidthey heard shots between 7 p.m and 8 p.m. last night, and saw police cars and medical crewsrushing in.

"I thought it was a kid [that]had lit off a string of firecrackers until I saw the police cruisers arriving and then the ambulances and then I thought OK, it's something much more serious," said neighbour Cameron Good.

"I didn't come out though becauseyou know, at that point I don't know what the heck is it."

Police at the time would not offer any details about the incident, but they saidthere wano threat to public safety.